Lucky stop leads to arrest

A cop made a lucky stop Wednesday night when she pulled over to make a phone call and ended up helping bring down a group of Vernon criminals.

Around 10:45 p.m. the cop pulled over by the Performing Arts Centre to make a call when a man ran up and said he'd just been robbed.

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the 23-year-old man was stopped on the street by a male and female who asked him for a cigarette. When he said he didn’t have any, they removed his wallet from his pocket and took his debit card. They told him to come with them to the bank.

"When they saw the police car pull up they took off running," Molendyk says.

The description was given out to other members and the City of Vernon by-Law officers. The two by-law officers on duty that evening noticed the two suspects several blocks away and were able to follow them and direct police to the location where they were arrested, in the alley between 31 Ave. and 32 Ave.

The two suspects, a 26-year-old female and a 36-year-old man are expected to face charges of robbery in this case.

"The Vernon RCMP would like to thank the City of Vernon By-Laws officers for their continued support in helping them catch people responsible for criminal acts in our city," Molendyk says. “Their work shows a true team effort in keeping our community safe."

As a result of the arrest, and follow up investigation, investigators determined the female suspect was also involved in the Mac’s Store robbery on April 30 on 27 St. The follow up investigation resulted in a search warrant to a residence as part of that investigation. During the search they recovered stolen property from a break and enter to a home in Vernon April 22.

Charges are being recommended against two men, 40 and 33 years old as well as the 26-year-old woman for robbery of the Mac’s Store. Charges of Break and Enter have also been laid. Police continue to work on this case.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call (250)309-5230.

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